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02/26/2013

After meeting with Obama, Rigell calls sequester "inevitable"

Virginia Beach Rep. Scott Rigell (R) is a relatively new member of Congress and as a result, he doesn't have very much power in Washington. However the two term Congressman represents one of the areas that stands to be hit the hardest by sequester. Tuesday he was granted something few Republican members of Congress have had in quite some time, a one on one meeting with President Barack Obama.

Rigell and Obama met around Obama's visit to a Newport News Shipyard. After the meeting with the President the Congressman made it clear to his constituents that things do not look good.

"Sequestration, an
alternative described by both Republicans and Democrats as reckless, now seems
inevitable," Rigell said in a statement following the meeting.

While Rigell expressed disappointment with the White House, he was not afraid to lay some of the blame on his fellow Congressional Republicans.

"I shared with the
President my concern that the Administration has not provided a definitive
legislative alternative to sequestration. Though the conversation was
substantive, my concern on these critical topics remain," he said. "Equally concerning is
the recently announced position by the Republican Conference that any agreement
to avert sequestration that contains any additional revenue will not be
considered."

Rigell's full statement can be found below:

“At my request, today
I met with President Obama to discuss the need to stop sequestration. I shared
with the President my concern that the Administration has not provided a
definitive legislative alternative to sequestration. Though the conversation
was substantive, my concern on these critical topics remain. Equally concerning
is the recently announced position by the Republican Conference that any
agreement to avert sequestration that contains any additional revenue will not
be considered. Given the two positions, sequestration, an alternative described
by both Republicans and Democrats as reckless, now seems inevitable. As a
result, hard working Americans, including many who call Hampton Roads home,
will suffer. National security will suffer as well. Given the severity of the consequences,
this is unacceptable. I continue to call on the President and leadership from
both parties to put what is best for our country ahead of all else.” -Rep. Scott Rigell

Rigell is not alone. On the other side of the isle, Senator Mark Warner seemed almost sullen in a lengthy interview I had with him on the topic.
Warner haw some hope for a Senate compromise bill that makes cuts equal to any revenue increases, but when I asked if he thought that bill could get through the House he said he doubted that it will even pass the Senate.

Warner said he gets why this pending fiscal disaster is driving people nuts.

"The sequester was set up, it was supposed
to be so awful so stupid that no rational group of people would allow this to
happen," Warner, of course is a member of that group of people that was supposed to be not rational enough to let this happen.

He seems incredibly frustrated that no headway can be made.

"Now we are looking at something that is three days away after we just
came out of a New Year's Eve debacle where we are right up against the wall
again," he said. "Why we are waiting until the 11 and half hour for each one of these
budget crises which are all manufactured is beyond me."